The trick is for you to stand out from the crowd so that you attract clients but also keep those valuable clients – it is a fact that it is easier to sell to your existing clients!

 

One of the things you can do is look at what added benefits you provide and compare it to your competitors to see what you are doing better and what they are doing better.

 

You need to be very honest with yourself and also objective as this is a very important exercise to do – there is no point getting emotional over your business, you need to think like your client.

 

Once you have done the analysis, have a think about what other benefits you can give to your clients. 

Think about:

 

One stop shop – do you have a supplier database that you can recommend reputable companies to match your client’s requirements.  Clients come to trust their VAs so it soon becomes the norm when they are asking your advice on where to go and who to use. You could always think about teaming up with good suppliers who offer affiliate or rewards programme or so you can earn some passive income as well.

 

Referral system – do you reward people who refer work to you?  Think about offering an affiliate system to your clients and associates.  This is very appealing to clients who can earn money off their bill or commission each month just for recommending you to their contacts and clients.  Everyone loves passive income so make it easy for your clients.

 

Proactive service – do you provide a really proactive service or do you just respond to client requests?  Get to know your clients really well so that you can anticipate their needs in advance and therefore provide services or solutions before the client needs them.

 

Discounts – have you got products that you could offer discounts on for valued clients?  Everyone likes to feel special and a great way to do that for your existing clients is to reward them with discounts.

 

Think about what you could offer your clients so that you can stand out from the crowd in all your marketing material and then start implementing them now.

 

Give your website a revamp. Is all the information up to date? Does it show a good photograph of you? This is your virtual shop window and the first impression most potential clients will see.

 

Write articles useful to your target market then add them to your web site. You can also include them in your ezines. This showcases you as the expert in that particular field.

 

Syndicate your articles online to article directories to attract new visitors to your web site and Ezine subscriber list.

 

 

More information about how to run an effective and profitable virtual assistant business can be found in our Start Your Virtual Assistant Business online course: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-online-courses/

Get more free top tips on creating raving fans for your virtual assistant business at: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/10-step-downloads/

 

From the client’s perspective, one thing that is sometimes difficult to understand is how work is progressing. 

 

One way to combat this is to keep in regular communication with the client and let them know how you are getting on with tasks given.

Send a weekly activity report and detail what tasks have been completed, what hours have been used and any comments so that the client is fully informed.

 

1. Define your audience.

Have a good think about who you want to be reading your blog. This is easier if you have a niche market because you will have a clear idea of who your customers are. If you do not have a particular niche, think about what your clients have in common.

 

2. Define your content.

Once you have decided who you want to reach, think about what information would interest them. Your blog is not a platform for you to continually trumpet your services and remind readers how great you are; it is an opportunity to provide useful information for your readers.

 

3. Set you posting rate.

A blog is for life, not just for Christmas! A blog takes commitment and is very interactive. Your readers will expect regular new content, so think about how often you want to post. I would recommend at least twice a week.

 

For the remainder of these tips download our free report “10 Steps for Successful Blogging to Raise Your Profile”: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/10-step-downloads/

 

What weaknesses can you see?
Some weaknesses may be related to the industry as a whole. For example, it may be that as you work remotely you cannot make the coffee. However, be aware if things crop up that you can do something about. Perhaps you have missed deadlines or you are not up to speed with particular software that your clients use. Think about how you can improve on these in the future.

 

How can you ‘delight the customer?’
Years ago I used to work for a holiday company that used the line ‘delight the customer’. The idea was that you do not want the customer just to be satisfied with what you have produced for them. In order to get them singing your praises you really need to ‘delight’ them. So, what can you do to delight your clients? Where can you add that little bit of extra value or really show some initiative? If you are seen to be going that extra mile, your clients will love you for it, and that is when they start to become your raving fans and tell everyone how great you are.

 

Better than advertising
As you can see, creating your brand or the ‘image’ for your company is not about expensive graphic designers or advertising experts. It is about identifying what is great about your business and communicating that in a clear and consistent way. If you can turn your clients into raving fans, they will not only stick with you through these turbulent times, but they will also recommend you to others. That has got to be better than spending a fortune on advertising!

 

Here are the top skills you need to run a successful virtual assistant business:

 

As a VA, you will be working with a range of clients providing different types of support to each client. It is therefore imperative that you are an organised person who is able to switch between different tasks and work within different situations regularly.

 

You are now your own boss. This brings a whole host of positive points, but also means that you no longer have a boss to issue instructions, motivate and encourage you… or breathe down your neck! You need to consider if you will be able to motivate yourself each day to get the job done, even if you are yet to secure your first client. 

 

As a Virtual Assistant, you are charging for the experience and skills that you have gained and honed during your career. As you are charging for your skills, these need to be of an exceptionally high standard.

 

Again, you are charging for your time, so high ethics and honesty are essential. Your clients have to trust you to do their work and believe what you report back to them. You need to be completely honest with clients and work to high standards. 

The work of a Virtual Assistant is very task-oriented – but for other people. It is a juggling act and you need to make sure that all your work is accurate and on time. If you don’t like doing some mundane tasks, then the role of a Virtual Assistant is probably not for you.

 

Virtual Assistants are renowned for their excellent software skills. Some VAs even offer software training as part of their services to clients. Make sure that you are experienced in a particular software package if you are going to offer it as a service to paying clients. For example, it wouldn’t be right to offer to produce high-quality presentations if you don’t know PowerPoint.

 

So, how do you know how you are perceived by your clients and prospects, and how can you set about improving or building on your brand?

 

What do your existing clients think of you?
The best place to start is by sending a questionnaire to your existing clients and everyone on your prospect list. It is a good opportunity to ask what they like about your service and what improvements could be made. You should begin to see some similarities in the responses, which will give you an idea of how your brand is perceived.

 

What do they like?
When you have identified the similarities, have a close look at what your clients and prospects love about you and your service. These are the positive aspects or your brand – the things that you should be communicating in all your marketing information.

 

Get more free top tips on creating raving fans for your virtual assistant business at: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/10-step-downloads/

 

As you aren’t seeing them face to face every day, like in corporate roles, it is important that you get the communication right so that you get the work done as well as build your growing relationship.

 

Communicating by email is ok, but you need to touch base and talk to your clients on a regular basis to build on the relationship. 

 

You don’t have to meet in person, make use of telephone or video conference facilities.